Kristen Sue Kendall

Kristen Sue Kendall (nee Hoyt) passed away peacefully at St. Joseph Hospital in Bellingham, WA, surrounded by and embraced in love with her mother, Barbara Sween, younger siblings, Stacey (Hoyt) Nguyen and Brian Hoyt, on the evening of May 26, 2021. Her father, Donald Hoyt, Jr. and nieces, Alyssa, Sophie, and Chloe Nguyen were also able to see her in the hour before she passed. Kristen was born in Bellingham, WA on September 26, 1969 to Donald and Barbara Hoyt (Sween).

Kristen attended Meridian Schools through middle school, graduated from Bellingham High School in 1989, and attended Whatcom Community College. 

Kristen’s many talents included creative writing, drawing, cross-stitching baby quilts for her nieces, great-nieces and many other family and friends, singing, and jewelry making. Most important to her was being a nanny and “pre” pre-school teacher for her nieces Alyssa, Sophie, and Chloe Nguyen. In 2015 she got to meet and spend time with her youngest niece, Scarlett Hoyt – a time that brought her tremendous joy. Kristen enjoyed celebrating the holidays, birthdays, graduations and spending time with her family any chance she got. She also spent a lot of time with numerous friends from church, church bible study groups, community groups and clubs.

Kristen is survived by her mother, Barbara Sween; father, Donald Hoyt, Jr. (Jill); her two younger siblings, Stacey (Khoa) Nguyen and Brian Hoyt; her cherished nieces and nephew, Alyssa, Sophie, and Chloe Nguyen, Scarlett Hoyt and Tristan Tamas; Tamara Tamas, Aunts and Uncles, Darlene and Don Moore, Beverly and Larry Vanerstrom, David Hoyt and Chuck Sween; Cousins John (Kristin) Moore, Jason Moore, Jodi Byrom, Jordyn (Tori) Byrom and numerous other cousins in the mid-west. Life-long treasured friends Kathy, George, Seth, Leah, and Felice Keegahn. Kristen was preceded in death by her grandparents, Orville and Pearl Sween, Donald and Ruth Hoyt, Sr., her loving step-father Al Aho, Aunt, Gayle Glass and Uncle, David Sween.

A celebration of life will be held at Christ the King Church, 4173 Meridian St, Bellingham, WA, 98226, by the family on Thursday, June 3, at 9 am. If you plan to attend, please wear bright colors. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Kristen’s name to Children International to help sponsor a child in poverty in countries around the world as she did faithfully every month for decades or to N.A.M.I. (National Alliance on Mental Illness) as she was passionate about helping others and traveled to be a speaker at several conferences.